SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Ames
Ames, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Ames, IA is $61,820 per year, well above the national median of $48,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Ames, IA is $61,820 per year, well above the national median of $48,570. The gap of 27.3% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $44,100 at the tenth percentile to more than $79,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,470 to $64,980.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 4.3 of every thousand jobs. Sioux City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 112th of 246 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,100 | −9.2% |
| 25th | $49,470 | +1.9% |
| Median (50th) | $61,820 | +27.3% |
| 75th | $64,980 | +33.8% |
| 90th | $79,010 | +62.7% |
| Mean | $59,990 | +23.5% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $54,800 | 410 | |
| 2 | Waterloo | $51,250 | 660 | |
| 3 | Davenport | $51,190 | 1,100 | |
| 4 | Des Moines | $50,850 | 1,220 | |
| 5 | Dubuque | $49,800 | 260 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $49,420 | 650 | |
| 7 | Iowa City | $49,270 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ames run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $61,820 goes as far as $70,410 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 45.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,410US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,820 a year, 27.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,100 to $79,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sioux City, at $54,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Ames, IA?
The median annual wage is $61,820, or $29.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,570, so pay in Ames, IA is 27.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Ames, IA earns more than $79,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sioux City, at $54,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 jobs in this occupation in Ames, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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